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Editorial endorsements

Spencer, Osmer for fire board

Incumbents Bart Spencer and John Osmer deserve re-election to the board of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, although challenger Peter Ohtaki is a good candidate who we hope will run again in the near future.

Mr. Spencer is a former paramedic who has never lost his enthusiasm for the firefighting and emergency medical professions. He is seeking his third term on the board. Mr. Osmer, a high-tech businessman who recently resigned from Solectron to start his own company, brings his financial expertise and experience in human resources to the board.

Mr. Spencer points to many accomplishments during his time on the board, including the promotion of Harold Schapelhouman to chief and streamlining work on the board by establishing committees on finance, human resources and strategic planning. As the board's point man on emergency medical issues, he represents the district's needs and concerns as the county negotiates a new ambulance contract.

Mr. Osmer is proud of his behind-the-scenes commitment to making sure district finances and personnel policies are in good shape. He said 90 percent of district revenue is spent on personnel, which means it must be done properly.

Both incumbents support the district's proposal to require sprinklers in new home construction, basements, and certain remodels in Menlo Park. Both also eagerly promote the community emergency response teams that work to train residents to support themselves and their neighbors after a major disaster like an earthquake.

Another big issue for both incumbents is how the district finances and carries out a program to upgrade stations in East Palo Alto, the main station on Middlefield Road and the neighborhood stations on Oak Grove and the Alameda de las Pulgas. Most of the stations are old and need to be refurbished, or in some cases, rebuilt.

Both men believe that the county should get a better contract with AMR, the ambulance provider, but are not overly optimistic that Menlo Park's voice can be heard, as there are 12 other cities or fire districts in the agency that will negotiate the new deal. Mr. Spencer hopes to see the ambulance provider offer lower response times and better coverage of the southern end of the district.

All three men in this race would make good fire board members, but our vote this time is to return incumbents Bart Spencer and John Osmer to the board.

Humphreys, Turner for Valley school board

All three candidates in the race for two seats on the Portola Valley school board are more than qualified to help guide this two-school district over the next four years. All have children in the school and contribute substantial time as volunteers.

And it is possible that all three candidates could wind up on the board as a result of the unexpected resignation of Donna Carano on Oct. 15. Either the sitting board, or the new board that takes office Dec. 1, will have to appoint another member within 60 days of the resignation, or call a special election, which cannot take place for at least 130 days.

But regardless of how the board decides to fill the third vacancy, residents must decide which of the three excellent candidates on the ballot should join the board.

Our choices are Steve Humphreys and Brad Turner, two innovative businessmen and school volunteers who are passionate about Portola Valley schools and who we believe will push to implement a number of the ambitious goals in the recently-adopted strategic plan. With its top notch staff and many willing parent volunteers, the district is ready to move forward with the new plan.

We also feel very comfortable with Judith Mendelsohn, but gave the nod to Mr. Humphries and Mr. Turner due to their commitment to innovation and their management and business skills. We particularly like Mr. Turner's enthusiasm about project-based learning, a concept he said he will try out with his own children during an upcoming vacation.

Portola Valley schools score consistently high in all standardized tests, and enjoy the luxury of high financial and volunteer support from parents and the surrounding community. Brad Turner and Steve Humphreys will keep the district on its stellar academic track, while opening to the door to some of the most exciting concepts in education today.